Finding Your Pirate Name

[roytheodd]

I've been tryin' to choose me own pirate name fer some time now, an' I has a list o' four that I still be trying to narrow to one:

• Roland Thunder - me high school nickname
  
• Solomon Pearce - a name I really like the sound o'
  
• James Embry - an historic play on me real name
  
• Benjamin Breedlove - the name of a feller I knew once upon a time and what sounds real piratelike
  

[Cannibal Chrispy]

I got Black Harry Kidd.......... twice! I think I'll stay Chrispy lol

[mojito]

i thought you earned your name......

i did anyway

i wonder how...

mojito

[Cannibal Chrispy]

The same way you did. seems we all get a little chrispy at some point. dont laugh your next lol

[RustyNell]

Mojito Harriett you most certainly earned yours, and Chris has been earning his since he became a teenager. I try to earn mine, by reputation anyway. Rusty Nell Riley...the initials are R.n.R after all.........most certainly something every sailor needs a little of.

Oh regarding those name generators when i did the name generator before i got this name I got Iron Jinny Flint.... so yeah Flint comes up a lot.

I gave a girlfriend a name I still really like. She wanted to wear fancy clothes and lots of purple and her character was going to be rich and mean so I dubbed her Violent Violet Vane (figured I could make her Charles Vanes illegitimate daughter)... bit of a tongue twister though, of course most people would just call her Violet or Ms. Vane.

Edited January 13, 2009 by RustyNell

[Kian McBrian]

I ended up getting Iron Sam Rackham, which I dont see me being too iron hearted, more of a light hearted fun loving kinda guy. So I got my name, Kian McBrian, from the fact that I like the name Kian, and McBrian meaning son of Brian which is my fathers name. If I get a title, its gonna be from earning it methinks

[Aerynfyre]

Mad Bess Bonney

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

[Commodore Swab]

Calico Jack Flint, Personally I think I will retain my ranks. . .

Having set sail from Portugal we replinished in the Canaries, then made for Port Royal barely escaping disaster. Many of our crew were not so lucky including our Captain and Boatswain. We sailed south making for the straits, I was the new Boatswain by now. Rounding the horn passingthru the straits of Magellen it was wonderful tobe heading North again. As we sailed west many small islands were encountered most had savage natives and those that didn't were without water. We made Singapore with a mere handful of men having had most secumb to scurvey. Mustering what stength I could I took 6 men ashore with me where we bartered to gain more crew, the locals cant speak the language and have never seen as grand as this. After several years I was ready to return home having been elected Captain. Our conscripts have learned how to intimadate others as well as man the ship. Once again I was confident in our ability to sail. Having left with the tide we sailed north. As we rounded a small island we were attacked by a much smaller vessel, our cannons loaded with shot tore thru their rigging leaving them helpless, we circled and boarded. Some crew were killed (they were locals and easilly replaced) but fortunatly my friends were all saved. Now I found myself in command of not 1 but 2 vessels making me a Commodore. As we sailed up the coast and around Islands we discovered that the smaller local ship while having a shallower draft was utterly useless on the open water. We sailed for Ayuthaya where I managed to sell the boat, unbeknowset to me at the time I was also given a wife who sails with me now. Making our way back around the Horn we sailed into the more familiar waters of the Carribean. Hearing of the fleet sailing that year we attempted to catch them only to be ensnared in the same hurricane and driven ashore on these misquito infested Islands. Now I am a Commodore without a ship, a wife without a home, and pennyless so if you see me you may call me

Commodore Swab

[Tartan Jack]

OR . . .

Foxe can be picking on you on a PM and create a name that starts as a joke, but takes on a whole other implication and meaning.

Then, that name is adopted . . .

At least, THAT is where my name came from . . .

[Commodore Swab]

Truth be told swab has been my nickname from sailing and deliveries, however my friends feel that an increase in rank was required. We have many many captains down here and due to my number of boats Captain seemed to not be enough so Commodore Swab it was. I just needed to come up with another story

[PrincipessaMarley]

Dirty Jenny Flint

You're the pirate everyone else wants to throw in the ocean -- not to get rid of you, you understand; just to get rid of the smell. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr! lmao sounds about right!

[Jezzy The Butcher]

They give me Mad Mary Rackam. I think I'll stick with what I been called for

many years..."Jezzy the Butcher MacPeaks".

[captdave]

i got BLACK DAVE FLINT

seems to me that generator needs a floggin

[toadbadger]

Arrrgh! I bit. My result?

Your pirate name is: Bloody Roger Kidd

Every pirate lives for something different. For some, it's the open sea. For others (the masochists), it's the food. For you, it's definitely the fighting. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

I think I will stick with Toadbadger......even if it is a bit weak.

[Karadimos]

I got Captain Prudentilla Bonney

[Elena]

The test said:

Your pirate name is: Captain Anne Flint

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Well, it's not really my name... but I can use it as an alias when needed

With the generator, it made to Leadline Charlotte. This might be a good alias too...

Edited August 19, 2010 by Elena

[Zingara Carmella]

Your pirate name is: Dread Pirate Vane Like the famous Dread Pirate Roberts, you have a keen head for how to make a profit. You tend to blend into the background occaisionally, but that's okay, because it's much easier to sneak up on people and disembowel them that way. Arr!

not sure about it .... but i like the profit part and the disembowel too

Edited September 4, 2010 by Zingara Carmella

[William Brand]

I'm not certain how it's possible that I never posted to this thread. Not once. I simply thought that I had and then not returned, so I'd like to throw my opinions on the table.

There are no fixed rules, but when asked for my advice on the subject of names over the years I have leaned toward the familiar and the historical, mostly because I find that traditional family names and good solid local names tend to 'ring true' in a way that feels natural. For example, I kept my first name William when I began my foray into the pirate hobby, mostly because I find it more natural to answer to my given name, and because it's a period name by default. For my last name I chose a surname from a family line stemming back to Denmark. Brand. It also has the virtue of sounding solid and even sinister under the right circumstances, without being overtly dramatic. William Brand. Short. To the point. I've even found a number of Brands in early records, though that was just a lucky bonus.

I actually find that most people have a period name already without even trying. I once met a John Barnes. A good, solid English name. I tried to convince the fellow that he need not change the name at all to have a good pirate name. Using your middle name is a good idea as well, especially if it's a family name with strong overtones of origin. Most pirates had very simple names. Henry Avery, William Kidd, Edward Teach. Short, simple names. Even nicknames are fine and fitting too, and if you already have a good nickname (given to you by friends in jest or as a compliment) then use it.

I have a friend called 'Big Mike'. I perfect pirate nickname. I also have a friend 'Johny 9', because he lost a finger years ago. He could be 'Nine fingers' or 'Nine John'.

I think my best advice when taking on a name is to take that name which feels as well fitted as a good weskit. Something that will wear and weather well. Something that will begin to take on it's own weight as your reputation grows. IT's not the complexity of the name, but rather the complexity of the person. And...don't be afraid to try out name ideas on people. Get some feedback.

[CharityRackham]

I'm not certain how it's possible that I never posted to this thread. Not once. I simply thought that I had and then not returned, so I'd like to throw my opinions on the table.

There are no fixed rules, but when asked for my advice on the subject of names over the years I have leaned toward the familiar and the historical, mostly because I find that traditional family names and good solid local names tend to 'ring true' in a way that feels natural. For example, I kept my first name William when I began my foray into the pirate hobby, mostly because I find it more natural to answer to my given name, and because it's a period name by default. For my last name I chose a surname from a family line stemming back to Denmark. Brand. It also has the virtue of sounding solid and even sinister under the right circumstances, without being overtly dramatic. William Brand. Short. To the point. I've even found a number of Brands in early records, though that was just a lucky bonus.

I actually find that most people have a period name already without even trying. I once met a John Barnes. A good, solid English name. I tried to convince the fellow that he need not change the name at all to have a good pirate name. Using your middle name is a good idea as well, especially if it's a family name with strong overtones of origin. Most pirates had very simple names. Henry Avery, William Kidd, Edward Teach. Short, simple names. Even nicknames are fine and fitting too, and if you already have a good nickname (given to you by friends in jest or as a compliment) then use it.

I have a friend called 'Big Mike'. I perfect pirate nickname. I also have a friend 'Johny 9', because he lost a finger years ago. He could be 'Nine fingers' or 'Nine John'.

I think my best advice when taking on a name is to take that name which feels as well fitted as a good weskit. Something that will wear and weather well. Something that will begin to take on it's own weight as your reputation grows. IT's not the complexity of the name, but rather the complexity of the person. And...don't be afraid to try out name ideas on people. Get some feedback.

Agreed. My name came from the needs of the script we were writing and it stuck when we continued the storyline and the BC Renaissance Festival. As we happen in the 1500s and a certain Rackham in the 1700s had an incredible.. ahh.. respect? .. for the strong women who shared his path we thought we should hint that his genetic stock came from someone else (many do the kid or grandkid of - we went the other way) and so Rackham was chosen. Then we thought.. What should be the last thing a female captain should give a crew.. Charity... TA DA.. So mine was a product of a story and I kind of liked it so I stuck with it BUT when I saw name generators given Charity Rackham as a suggested I added the middle name of Ann. It just sounds good.

Be creative and by all means use the generators as a guideline but you don't have to stick with it 100%. If you use a name that exists in pop culture or media and you're a performer, I would suggest, however, that you avoid obvious exact repeats. In talking to a few friends about promo and findability issues with performers and the internet.. Unless you are a Jack Sparrow impersonator (even then you should do other characters that they can find you by as well) there is no need for it. You run the risk of getting sued (boy are we all happy Disney can't be bothered) or you have another problem. You get lost in the mass of the original. So I guess I'm also advising that you consider what you are doing with the alias. And check the stats on that Alias. If you're just 'fooling around' then cool but if you are after a particular result.. Make sure you think it through. Look at stats. Look at other performers who have made it work and others who have not. How long have they been in this industry and as what? Example: I've been in this from the age of 8 and for a while I specialised in media research, have a three page acting resume plus a tech one, and rely on my gigs and projects for my primary income - high risk here so I do the research and redo it when the attention drops. I am constantly remodeling promos (recently going as far as handing that job to a younger person going through promo related schooling) and I settle on a popular change until it proves otherwise.... Your name and image is such a part of that. Has your inspirations done this? Do they have the support you'd like to share? Do you want to make sure you don't want to conflict with those you want to connect with? Do you want to be considered an equal not competition? Believe it or not the name is the first thing they will know, see and build an image. So careful who and what inspires you.

Remember... Changing names after being recognised is tough.

Now if you're RPGing.. Ignore the previous advice. Go on.. Go nuts!!

TA DA!

Later.

[AuroAmbrose]

I didn't like any of them. I'll stick with Auro (OR-oh) Ambrose

[Mission]

I'd take an interesting name (like Auro) over a generic one (like the fistful of recurring surnames that name-bots produce) any day. Still, it can be fun to play with the name-bots, I 'spose.

My name is a misspelling, which is actually the second time this has happened to me when establishing a name on a forum. (And that, if nothing else, seems highly appropriate. Read one of my Pirate Surgeon's Event Journals to see why. )

I should note that I'm not one for re-enacting backstories, which may color my comments here. I prefer the on-going re-enacting stories, most of which are much more entertaining if you dive in and try new stuff whilst at an event. (Such as milking a goat, for example. )

[William Brand]

I didn't like any of them. I'll stick with Auro (OR-oh) Ambrose

Auro Ambrose is a good, solid, unique name.

[kingofshooters]

first time : Bloody James Kidd second time : Iron James Kidd

[Dread Pyrate Greyhound]

Tried it just for the heck of it. I got 'Red Sam Flint'

"Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!"

[mrbungle]

tom bungle to friends................one eyed tom to my enemies and to sailors who serve the crown..............